Zimbabwe has confirmed two cases of mpox in individuals who recently traveled to South Africa and Tanzania.
Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora made the announcement on Sunday, stating that both patients are stable, no longer infectious, and are being managed at home, according to Xinhua news agency.
Mombeshora explained that the first case involves an 11-year-old boy who traveled to South Africa in August. He returned to Zimbabwe on September 10 and developed symptoms on September 23. Currently, he is in isolation at home and is no longer infectious. Seven contacts have been identified and are under monitoring.
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The second case is a 24-year-old male with a known history of travel to Tanzania. He, too, is in isolation at home and is no longer infectious. Contact tracing and monitoring for this case are also underway.
The Minister reassured the public that the situation is under control. He urged citizens not to panic and to report any suspected cases to the nearest health facilities.
In August, the World Health Organization declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years. This declaration came as a new variant, referred to as “clade 1b,” began spreading from Congo to neighboring African countries. This variant has raised global concerns due to its ability to spread more easily through close contact.
Additionally, neighboring Zambia reported its first case last week but did not disclose the strain involved. Mpox typically causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While it is usually mild, it can be fatal in some cases.
